Pumping system



June 10, 1941. w. HfCROW I PUMPING SYSTEM Filed June 25. 1940 BY `amava/242m ATTORNEYS Patented June l0, 1941 NITEDv STATES PATENT` OFFICE rUMrxNG sYsr'EM William H. Crow, Stockton, Calif. Application June 25, 41940, serial No. 342,248

4 Claims. (C

This invention relates in general to an im- 'proved pumping system, and in particular the velop in the pressure tank or on a pressure line;

the ejector being supplied with water under presi sure from a take-01T point on the pressure side of the pump.l In this way, it is possible to increase tank pressure or`line pressure without a proportionate increase in the motor power. However, the use of an ejector on a pump limits the volumetric pumping capacity thereof, which has been found to be an undesirable feature.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide in such a shallow well, low power pumping system an assembly including such an ejector in part arranged to create a relatively high water pressure in the supply tank or the like when the pump is operating against a pressure on the discharge side thereof, and to pump a substantially larger volume of water than otherwise possible when the pump is open on the discharge side.

A further' object of the invention is to provide in a low power pumping assembly which includes an ejector in the suction pipe, means arranged to automatically by-pass the upward ilow of water in the suction pipe about the ejector whereby to increase the volumetric pumping capacity of the pump when the discharge side of the latter is open, and the suction in said suction pipe below the ejector is greater than the pressure on the discharge side of said pump. Such a situation would occur, for example, when` the water delivery system beyond the pump opened for irrigation or similar purpose and thus creates no back pressure.

A furthe: object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalviews:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevation of a vertical centrifugal pump of low power shallow well type, embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken on line 2-'2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral I indicates the motor enclosing housing of a vertical centrifugal pump, such housing enclosing a relatively low power electric drive motor (not shown) Whose drive shaft 2 depends therefrom and is mounted at its lower end in connection with a centrifugal impeller 3 enclosed in suitable housing 4; a discharge pipe 5 leading from one side of housing 4.

A common suction pipe 6 is connected with housing'l at the bottom and depends therefrom into the well. The ejector assembly in the present embodiment of the invention is interposed in suction pipe 6 immediately below the impeller housing 4. Such ejector assembly comprises an upwardly discharging ejector jet l disposed in a fitting 8 whose lower end is threaded onto the adjacent end of the suction pipe 6. The jet 1 is of substantially less diameter than the internal diameter of housing 8 whereby to form a water flow passage 9 about said jet; the jet being supported by elbow I0 which extends through the side of housing 8. The elbow is connected by a suitable pipe and fitting assembly, indicated generally at II, with the discharge side of the pump as indicated generally at I2.

The jet 'I discharges into a venturi I3 formed in a fitting generally known as an ejector difiuser I4 which is mounted in connection with and projects upwardly from fitting 8; the upper end of such ejector diffuser being connected with the lower end of the upper section of the suction pipe by pipe means including a iitting I5.

Fittings 8 and I5 are provided with laterally extending elbows I6 and I1 respectively, such e1- bows opening toward each other. Immediately above the upper end ofv elbow portion I6, fitting 8 is formed with a housing i8 providing an enclosed chamber C which includes an upwardly facing valve seat I9; elbow I6 opening into chamber C through said valve seat. An upwardly opening check valve 20 of suitable type is disposed in chamber C for cooperation with valve seat I9. The upper end of housing I8 above chamber C is initially open; such open end of said chamber` being arranged in communication with the lower end of elbow I1 by means of a pipe and fitting assembly indicated generally at 2|, and which includes a portion 2Ia threaded into the upper end of housing I8. Circumferentially spaced rigid fingers 22 depend from the lower end of fitting portion Zia, and are of a length to limit upward movement of check valve 20 to an extent to prevent its accidental escape from an operative position.

The volumetric capacity of the by-pass assembly described in the above paragraph is substantially equal to that of suction pipe 8, and of course much greater than the capacity of venturi I3.

1n use, when the above described pumping system is operating against a pressure on the discharge side of the pump, the check valve 20 remains closed. When so operating, the ejector portion of the assembly functions in the same manner as is now lcommon in ejector type pumps.

However, when the pumping system is open on the discharge side of the pump. as for irrigating or the like, and the pump is not working against a pressure on said discharge side, the suction in suction pipe 6 below the ejector is greater than the pressure on the discharge side of-the pump and valve 20 immediately and automatically opens. When this occurs, the volumetric pumping capacity of the pump increases substantially, due to the fact that the water is then by-passing the restriction of the venturi and flowing through chamberA C and about the open check valve.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein. Y j

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such dctail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I` claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in pumping apparatus including a driven pump, a vertical suction pipe connected with the pump, an ejector assembly interposed in said `suction pipe intermediate its ends, and means for supplying pressure fluid to the ejector; of a separate vertical conduit connected between spaced points on the suction pipe and by-passing the ejector assembly, means included in said conduit forming an enlarged chamber therein, a valve seat between said chamber and one portion of the conduit, and a check valve disposed in said chamber n cooperative relation to said seat.

2. In pumping apparatus which includes a driven pump, a suction pipe assembly adapted to depend into a well, an ejector unit in said suction pipe assembly intermediate its ends. and means for supplying pressure fluid to the ejector; said assembly including vertically spaced fittings!l the ejector being disposed therebetween, elbows projecting laterally from the same side of said fittings and facing each other, a separate by-pass pipe connecting said elbows, and a check valve unit formed in one of said elbows and having a valve opening in the direction of the pump.

3. In pumping apparatus which includes a driven pump, a suction pipe assembly adapted to depend into a well, an ejector unit in said suction pipe assembly intermediate its ends, and means for supplying pressure fluid to the ejector; said assembly including vertically spaced fittings, the ejector being disposed therebetween, elbows projecting laterally from the same side of said fittings and facing each other, the lower fitting being provided with a housing forming an enlarged chamber immediately above the corresponding elbow, there being a valve seat in the bottom oi.' said chamber and through which said correspending elbow opens, a check valve cooperating with said seat and opening upwardly, and a separate by-pass pipe connected between said chamber and the. upper elbow.

4. In a pumping system which includes a driven pump and a suction pipe assembly connected therewith; said assembly comprising upper and lower pipe sections initially spaced apart at their adjacent ends, spaced -fittings secured on said adjacent ends of the pipe sections, an ejector diffuser connected between said fittings, a jet mounted in the lower fitting and facing upwardly into the ejector diffuser, separate passage means between the jet and the discharge side of the pump for supplying pressure fluid to said jet, elbows projecting laterally from the fittings on the same side and facing each other, a by-pass pipe connecting said elbows, and a check valve unit formed in one of said elbows and having a valve opening in the direction of the pump.

WILLIAM H. CROW. 

